Historical Background:During the operations in the Yangtze valley in the summer of 1938, the Japanese made extensive use of landing Parties, conducted jointly by naval and land forces. The purpose of these operations was to bring about the capture of Hankow in the shortest possible time and produce a situation favoring the conclusion of the war. The beginning of the Hankow operations should be considered with the Japanese attempt to capture Datun, the first barrier in the advance of the Japanese squadron upstream. Datun, on the south bank of the river, is approximately 230 miles from Hankow. Early in June the Japanese concentrated at Datun about one hundred vessels, including over thirty naval craft armed with medium caliber artillery.For eight days the Japanese naval guns bombarded the Chinese field fortifications surrounding Datun. On the ninth day, when the landing was attempted, the artillery bombardment was reinforced by an aerial bombardment with twenty medium bombers, all the fire being concentrated against the Chinese fortified positions. The naval vessels were a little more than a mile from shore. The movement of the transport vessels from behind the line of naval craft was covered by concentrated artillery fire.

Upon the approach of the transports to within 300 or 400 yards of the bank of the river, motor boats were lowered with infantry landing parties. The artillery fire at this time was switched to the rear of the Chinese positions The Japanese attack, however, was repulsed. Repeated attempts to effect a landing ended in failure.

Conditions of Victory:6 medalsEach Datun town hex (not the two Pacific village hexes) is worth a temporary victory point to the Japanese player.

Special Rules:- The Imperial Japanese Army command rules (Nations 3) are in effect. - The Minefields (Terrain 29) are laid by the Chinese player. The mines in the River Yangtze symbolize scuttled boats and other obstacles as well as actual explosive mines dropped by the Chinese navy. Remember that the Winter Wars mines are less deadly, mixing them in is optional. - The bunkers (Terrain 2) can be claimed by the Chinese player. - The Japanese Destroyer (Troops 12) follows the normal rules and can only move on Ocean hexes (so it needs to run through the mines to move).- The Japanese Big Gun (Troops 3) on the opposite side of the Yangtze cannot move into the water. - The Chinese Artillery is smaller caliber as represented by the Heavy Anti Tank Gun badges (Troops 23).- The Chinese units with Machine guns (SWA 7) use pre-1942 rules for SWAs (i.e. move OR fire, may not take ground). - Air rules are strongly recommended - give both Air Sortie cards to the Japanese player. He starts with a Zero (Airplanes 7) already airborne and on the map.

Scenario Bibliography:http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=90259Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) pg.240-242

Warning:Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.